I have been somewhat disorganised recently. I think subconsciously I knew it and it prompted a desperate re-evaluation. I woke a few mornings ago with one of the worst panics I’ve experienced in my life. My heart was pounding and adrenaline coursed through my entire being sparking immediate reaction. This panic was triggered by a sudden realisation that I have not progressed as much and as efficiently through my writing as I had originally planned. While the hard-deadline I gave myself is not that far away, having so many chapters dropped within these 2-3 months period did not provide enough signposts that can help mark my gradual lead up towards the finishing line. While the end goal post was clearly marked, there was simply not enough checking mechanisms along the way to ensure that I know and feel that I am progressing satisfactorily and in the right trajectory.
I threw myself into my writing and managed to get some done and after the adrenaline subsided somewhat (the next day), I discussed the matter with my supervisors. I told them that I needed a more concrete ‘itinerary’. As a result, I will be producing a more detailed timeline with dates assigned to each chapter, to mark my own progress more tangibly. So instead of working towards completing the entire thesis, I can focus on a few weeks at a time and just concentrate on a particular chapter. A lesson learnt albeit a bit late I am afraid. However, I guess this may not suit everyone but it is certainly one possible tip to keep in mind.
On the other hand, on one of my breaks, I managed to stumble upon an unassuming gem of a cafe in Melbourne called Baba Budan. Peering in from the outside, I could only see an interesting false ceiling created by an eclectic collection of chairs hanging above the space. Only when I got inside and sat down for a coffee that I realised that it is also a coffee connoisseurs’ haven. They have a good variety of coffee beans and on that day, they were serving Colombian arabica. In this tiny space with one large communal table only, they also had space dedicated to cupping. This is not the stuff practiced by Chinese medicine practitioners but rather coffee tasting. I overheard that it is something done everyday Saturday where people not only got to taste different coffees but learned about coffee as well. What a wonderful concept.
people waiting for cupping session @ Baba Budan
I did think that the cafe name was somewhat esoteric and it was not until Google came to my resuce, that I found out that apparently Baba Budan was a 17th century Sufi accredited to be the one who smuggled 7 coffee beans out of Ethiopia and introduced it to India and in a way helped spread this addictive bean to the rest of the world. Cheers Baba Budan and thank you for my 3/4 full cup of latte.
